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Nov 7, 2013 | 01:25

Anger over Greek tv station raid

Nov. 7 - Greek riot police stormed the headquarters of former state broadcaster ERT to evict a handful of defiant former employees who have been camped out since June when the government shut its operations. Hayley Platt reports.

TRANSCRIPT +

Greek riot police gather outside the headquarters of the former state broadcaster ERT.
Security cameras recorded these pictures minutes before they stormed the building to evict more than 50 former staff.
They'd been operating a bootleg service following a controversial government shutdown in June.
(SOUNDBITE)(Greek) FORMER ERT EMPLOYEE WHO HAD OCCUPIED THE BUILDING, TV DIRECTOR SOPHIA EFTHIMOPOULOU, SAYING:
"I have been here for years, I refuse to leave. I had refused to apply to the new public television, instead I gave up my position. "
(SOUNDBITE)(Greek) FORMER ERT EMPLOYEE WHO HAD OCCUPIED THE BUILDING, JOURNALIST ADRIANNA BILI, SAYING:
"I feel like they have raped me, like they have violated my home, they have violated my life, and democracy. They have destroyed everything."
Two and a half thousand staff lost their jobs when the station closed.
The government said it couldn't afford the annual $400,000 running costs.
Several attempts to reform the business had failed and ratings were falling.
Those who refused to leave carried on broadcasting via the internet.
And many supported their protest saying it was wrong of the government to close the station to appease international lenders.
Opposition lawmaker Thanasis Pafilis.
(SOUNDBITE)(Greek) COMMUNITY PARTY LAWMAKER THANASIS PAFILIS SAYING:
"This is a continuation of the autocratic actions by the government in order to impose policies that do not have the consent of the people."
A new state tv service was set up to replace ERT.
Some of those who lost their jobs were taken on.
But those evicted by police have vowed to continue their protest

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